WMUA radio at University of Massachusetts promoting local bands with show

S.P. Sullivan, MassLive.comA studio microphone in WMUA's studios at the University of Massachusetts.

The campus radio station for the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, WMUA 91.1 FM, is getting involved in the local music scene.

On Saturday night, the station will host a rock show at the Cape Cod Lounge in the Student Union to promote local bands.

“Some of the WMUA deejays and I were bemoaning the lack of knowledge our college community has of its local music scene,” said Ben Becker, the publicity director for WMUA. “We also realized that it can be very difficult for many local bands to play regularly because each event has to make money.”

That conversation got the wheels turning.

“Our premise was to use a concert series to foster an interest in the local music scene amongst college students and the community,” Becker said. “The event is all-ages and totally free for everyone.”

According to Becker, the station has always been involved in organizing and promoting live music.

“We’ve organized and promoted concerts for years, but this year we are starting a new series titled ‘the Local Music Movement’ which focuses entirely on local and regional bands,” he said. “This event will focus on local rock and indie rock bands. Next month will be jazz, and funk / soul in April.”

Becker and his radio station cohorts set upon the task of selecting the acts to play at the event.

“It was the deejays at our station that got together and brainstormed all of the local rock bands they could think of,” Becker said. “We then selected two bands which are composed of current 5-College students, and two bands which are part of the local community. All bands were chosen based upon their sound, and each display a unique style.”

The lineup for Saturday’s show features NYC UFOs (indie pop), Lord Jeffs (psychedelic rock), Mountain Interval (indie rock), and Kick! Kick! which is described as an indie rock / post punk band.

“Our hope is that this event will get our community excited about all the great local bands in our area,” Becker said. “We will be promoting WMUA at the concert but that is not the intention of this event. This is about the local bands that are making great music.”

The concert starts at 8 p.m. It is an all ages show that is free and open to the public.